Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-02-10
HOW TO TREAT PUPILS.

II
held at Bridgeport, Feb. 5th, 1887, by Miss
Alice Cunningham, of Bellsire, Ohio;
| This topic take up with reluctance, be-
cause it may be truthfully said that it is very
much easier to advance theories than to put
the same into practice; for while the spirit is
willing the flesh is weak, and We teachers,
like Paul, often do that which we would moi,
and that which we would, we do not.
4 The hrst duty is to be cheerful, and wear 8
pleasant face at all times. Spencer says, that
he who carries self-regard far enough to keep
himself In good health and high spirits, be
| comes an immediate source of pleasure to
those around him, and that By display of
| happiness man may add to the happin, IS of
others, more than by positive efforts to benefit
| them; that on the other hand gloomy man
may decrease their happiness more by his
presence than he increases it by his actions.
Children are so susceptible aBd so easily in
nuenced by their surroundings, that gloomy
| appearance on the part of the teacher will
produce gloomy, listless school in a won>
derfully short time. ga merry heart doeth
good like medicine" There is nothing 30
| contagious as one's manners. Some one
| truthfully says, that he who enters his school
| room with face like thunder-cloud, may
expect his plans to miscsrry. 1t il not at all
| probable that athunder>cloud on the teachers
face will have the same beneficial effect that
! thunder-cloud in nature has on the stmos-
phere OF the earth Treat them kindly. Love
your neighbor as yourself, means your pupils,
| il you are teacher.
BIZ COURTEOUS.
The most pleasant recollection 1 have Of
uny OF my teachers is of one who presided in
| the Valley School, about mile from this
place. He invariably greeted all his pupils,
even we little Insignificant primaries, and
also the tardY pupils, with pleasant good
morning. His kindly face and tone are be-
fore me yet, although everything else con,
nected with that school are forgotten Pupils
soon learn to expect this greeting, and to re-
spond in manner that will repsys the teacher
for the trouble.
Bs JUST AND FIRM.
Do not punish unless you are sure you are
in the right, and that there Is no other way
out OF the difficulty. Then do it thoroughly.
AS far as possible avoid direct conflicts with
obstinate pupils. Our duty is to help them
TO grow into good men and women, not sim
ply to conquer them. Prevention is better
than punishment. Do not think your laws,
like those of the Medes and Persians, must
not be changed. Use common sense in fixing
and intiicting penalties: Do not array your
self against the school, or any pupil in it. If
1t is necessary to punish, do so, and then ap~
parently forget that there has ever been any
unpleasantness between you and the pupil.
Treat him just as you do other pupila. Try
TO have the public opinion on your side, in
favor of good order and right doing Chill
dren are wise enough to understand why they
are sent to school, and to respect the teacher
who holds them to their duties, and to despise
the teacher who, through lsziness or a desire
to please, allows them to have too great liber-
ty and to fritter away their time. Obedience
is not easily learned, and severity should not
follow thoughtlessness, but should be used
only In case of wilful disobedience.
Hon. E E. White once gave a direction
which has greatly helped me at times when
the spirit of mischief and unruliness seem to
have taken possession of my school, His
directions were those that might be given to
make skilful driver: Keep the lines steady
and the whip STILL. Allow as much liberty
as the welfare of the school will permit. Re-
quire no unnecessary self denial on the part
of the pupils, but show them that for the
common good, individuals in families, schools
and states, must deny themselves liberties
which are in themselves harmless. Teach
them that they are under the same moral OBJ
legation to do right as yourself.
BIZ PATIENT.
Remember your own early experience. and
that you were once thoughtless and light>
hearted. Their turn will come soon enough,
to meet graver troubles and responsibilities of
life Especially be patient with that trying
class, the plodders. Discouragements will
come thick and fast enough to them. Do not
lie us add to their burdens. On the other
hand, things should be made so unpleasant
ff,r bo 1o1u ba mil
his course or find some more congenial place
and employment.
TRUST YOUR PUPILS.
Let them know that you trust them. Act
as if you took their good behavior for granted.
They will desire your good opinion and will
be much less likely to do anything to forfeit
it. Regard all as truthful until the contrary
is proven. Even rogue would prefer to be
regarded as honest. But, on the other hand,
do not be so innocent and unsuspecting that
you cannot see wreng doing, where it really
exists. As a rule, children as well as adults, !
will be to US just about what we expect them
to be.
TREAT THEM IMPARTIALLY.
Even though some are so uDlovable that we
wonder how their mothers manage to regard
them with proper affection, we will only en-
bitter them by showing that we esteem others
more than them.
PRAISE THEM.
Do not be afraid of being too liberal with |
this stimulus when you know il is deserved |
More persons fail because of lack af proper
appreciation than are injured by overmuch |
praise. DR.. Holland says: God never lifted
anyone so far above his fellows that their
voices in commendation were not the most
delightful sounds that reached him.
Do not be sarcastic, unless you wish to be |
despised. A severe whipping is not half so
cruel as bitter taunt.
Manifest kindly interest In them and in all |
their affairs. Aside from the good which
you may do them, when you win the affec,
tions of the pupils you willin almest all cases
have gained the friendship of the parents,
and one friend among the pupils makes
others, even before the teacher has formed
the acquaintance of the others. This, of
course, is the selfish side of the case, but the
contrast between one who, though of but
moderate abilities, by his friendliness begets
friends, and the one who, though possessed
Of greater requirements, begets indifference
by his hardness, is evident to all Love
them or you cannot win their regard, in
which case your ability to do them good will
be greatly lessened.
'sFor we live by loving,
And by serving, love will grow"
Treat them as well, at least, as you do their
seniors. 1t is as important to be polite in
your school-room as in your parlor. Do not
forget them when they leave school, and they
viii in most cases prove to be lifelong
friends.
i. he |